A wind farm in Ireland has been refused planning permission because of a rare bird of prey.

The application from Bord Gais for a €50m (£42m) wind farm in County Galway had already been turned down once by planners and last week was again refused at appeal.

The wind farm met with opposition because it was feared it would affect the habitat of the Hen Harrier, a threatened species and said to be nearing extinction in the UK.

The wind farm would have provided electricity for 30,000 homes. But Birdwatch Ireland appealed against the 16-turbine development because of “its impact on wild birds of conservation concern and of national and European importance”.